Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is expected to seek financial assistance for various energy projects during his visit to the United States, Business Recorder reported while citing sources.

The finance czar is set to meet US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Ross Pyatt during his upcoming trip to Washington. The discussions will focus on issues within the energy sector.

Earlier this week, US Ambassador Donald Blome called on Finance Minister Aurangzeb where they discussed economic matters, including the performance of Pakistan’s energy sector.

Sources said that the US envoy requested details regarding the proposed re-profiling of Chinese power sector debts and its overall impact on Pakistan’s economy. The finance minister replied that China and Pakistan had engaged consultants to finalise agreeable terms for the debt re-profiling over the coming years.

Although Pakistan and China were prepared to begin signing re-profiling agreements during the recent visit of the Chinese prime minister, the process has been put on hold following the Karachi airport attack where Chinese nationals were killed.

Aurangzeb is scheduled to be in Washington from October 21 to 26 to attend the annual IMF-World Bank meetings.

He is expected to discuss ongoing issues related to five wind power projects established by the US International Development Finance Corporation as both parties have yet to reach a mutually agreed resolution.

In a meeting last May, the US ambassador “made it clear” that the DFC would refrain from investing in Pakistan until the issues regarding these wind power projects were resolved. The Pakistan Embassy in Washington has also informed Islamabad that “Washington is serious about resolving these matters” to facilitate future investments in the energy sector.

The Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline and the import of petroleum products through informal channels are “significant concerns” for Washington, according to sources.